From the people that designed the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell jet-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Hyfish, comes their futuristic SmartFish small personal jet.
SmartFish prototype specifications are a cruise speed of Mach 0.85 (561mph/903kph at 35,000ft/10,670m), a 10000km (6,200 miles) range, low fuel consumption, and low CO2 emissions. A Williams FJ-33-19 turbofan with 1900lbs (864kgs) of thrust powers the Smartfish and fueled from two integral wing tanks holding 625liters (165 US gallons).
The SmartFish is only 6.9m (22ft 8”) long, with a 5.4m (17ft 9”) wingspan and an empty (dry) weight of 500kg (1,102lbs), 400kgs (882lbs) of fuel and 300kg (661lbs) of pilot, passenger, and luggage.
The blended wing and body mean a large internal volume for fuel and a roomy cabin, as well as high lift to drag ratios. Fewer mechanical parts to actuate fewer aerodynamic control surfaces mean higher reliability. The design is backed-up by some high tech Swiss and German research and development companies.
Based on some high performance blended wing-to-body aerodynamic shapes, tested out numerically with computational fluid dynamics models, then in wind-tunnels and with radio-controlled scale models, the SmartFish guys are now looking for partners to develop UAVs, high performance sports planes, business jets and even spacecraft to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere.
It really is a cool looking flying machine, and if it achieves its expected performance of flying 10,000kms using 625litres of aviation gasoline with a 10% reserve, then it gets better mileage than our Toyota Yaris (17.8kms/liter versus 16kms/liter).
Visit: http://www.smartfish.ch/
Via Dvice
Comments
As Bob says - the 1102lbs is without fuel, pilot, passenger and luggage. Max take off weight is 1,200kgs (2,645lbs).
These guys need a booth at Osh Kosh right beside JetPack Man and NASA Personal Tiltrotor
I would guess that the queue of investors behind the Epic aircraft, and Grob jet, the Adam Aircraft disaster, and nearly-endless list of other failure debacles will be next in line to be skinned with this fishing-for-dollars P. R. campaign. True-believers are so easy to tap for cash. Just drop in a few lines baited with impressive CFD airflow drawings, and set the hook with promises of early delivery positions and unbelieveable (really... not believable) projected performance.
Makes for a cute r/c model, tho', if you look at the video hyperlink.
Don't listen to the negative vibes on this page. It often comes from people with just the energy to press ****ons on their TV remote control, with their behinds riveted on their living-room couches.
For more credibility though, do provide Cl-to-Cd ratios over speed envelope.
To prove-out the concept, this project should have some flesh hung on its meager bones by initially producing it via state-of-the-art kits and show the world some tangible reality and performance... a la Lancair's beginning. Avoids all the up-front expense, time, and issues of type-certification and production-certification approvals. Just ask Adam Aircraft, Epic, Grob, and Eclipse how well new (and orphan) aircraft types fare in the real world; it's a tough and brutal Darwinian business. So, my position stands: It's a paper airplane that is likely always to remain so. But it's cute and fun to contemplate.